New Delhi: The HRD Ministry today sought an explanation from the Aligarh Muslim University VC over not allowing access to women undergraduates to the main library in the campus, with Minister Smriti Irani saying that it amounted to an “insult to daughters”.
Irani said the ministry’s secretary for higher education has been directed to seek an explanation from AMU Vice Chancellor Zameer Uddin Shah in the matter and she will react only after receiving the report.
“There are some reports which hurt you as a woman and also agitates you that when we attained freedom there was a belief that education and constitutional rights were same for all… And now we get reports that amount to insult to daughters,” the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister said on the sidelines of an event to mark Maulana Azad’s 125th birth anniversary as ‘Shiksha Diwas’.
Turning down the demand of students of Women’s College, AMU, for access to the varsity’s Maulana Azad Library, vice- chancellor Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah has said there would be “more boys” in the library if girls were allowed in. The remarks evoked sharp reactions from not only the political leaders but also activists.